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Glial Neurobiology: A Textbook
"This volume is a very valuable and much needed contribution."
― Quarterly Review of Biology AT LAST - A comprehensive, accessible textbook on glial neurobiology! Glial cells are the most numerous cells in the human brain but for many years have attracted little scientific attention. Neurophysiologists concentrated their research efforts instead, on neurones and neuronal networks because it was thought that they were the key elements responsible for higher brain function. Recent advances, however, indicate this isn’t exactly the case. Not only are astroglial cells the stem elements from which neurones are born, but they also control the development, functional activity and death of neuronal circuits. These ground-breaking developments have revolutionized our understanding of the human brain and the complex interrelationship of glial and neuronal networks in health and disease. Features of this Written by two leading experts in the field, Glial Neurobiology provides a concise, authoritative introduction to glial physiology and pathology for undergraduate/postgraduate neuroscience, biomedical, medical, pharmacy, pharmacology, and neurology, neurosurgery and physiology students. It is also an invaluable resource for researchers in neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology and pharmaceutics.
― Quarterly Review of Biology AT LAST - A comprehensive, accessible textbook on glial neurobiology! Glial cells are the most numerous cells in the human brain but for many years have attracted little scientific attention. Neurophysiologists concentrated their research efforts instead, on neurones and neuronal networks because it was thought that they were the key elements responsible for higher brain function. Recent advances, however, indicate this isn’t exactly the case. Not only are astroglial cells the stem elements from which neurones are born, but they also control the development, functional activity and death of neuronal circuits. These ground-breaking developments have revolutionized our understanding of the human brain and the complex interrelationship of glial and neuronal networks in health and disease. Features of this Written by two leading experts in the field, Glial Neurobiology provides a concise, authoritative introduction to glial physiology and pathology for undergraduate/postgraduate neuroscience, biomedical, medical, pharmacy, pharmacology, and neurology, neurosurgery and physiology students. It is also an invaluable resource for researchers in neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology and pharmaceutics.
232 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 18, 2014
Only 10% of the entire nervous system exists as neurons, yet these cells are the first things we imagine when we're asked to think of the brain on a biological level. So what makes up the remaining 90% of our physical minds? Glial cells, and all kinds of them. The text explores the physiology and pathophysiology of all types of glia (astroglia, microglia, Schwann cells, oligodendroglia, etc.). It is a relatively easy read for anyone with a basic background in cell physiology. Unfortunately, the text is far too concise in terms of pathophysiological discourse. The whole of the book comprises but 200 pages of text (with many, many diagrams). Authors should expand the text threefold if they wish to continue calling the work a "textbook". Nonetheless, it was a fascinating introductory read. Highly recommended for any neurologist/psychiatrist/biopsychologist/neuroscientist who has yet to see beyond the synaptic cleft.
July 29, 2020
Important textbook even if relatively short and incomplete still offers a very useful synthesis of the subject.
June 23, 2013
Glial Neurobiology. A Text
It is quite fascinating to read about a new discovery in brain science and about just those facts in and of themselves.
But for me, the story is a good case study of how the process and the human dynamic plays out when a new paradigm is not just one of shift but one of revolution.
Instead of shifting a paradigm, the revolutionary paradigm exposes a stubborn and even egotistical resistance to the new paradigm by those experts of the old paradigm who may have held sway for decades or in some cases centuries.
The Neuronal Doctrine was dominant. The glial cells were relatively ignored. There was no electrical activity and hence could not be that important. The last twenty years have turned the tide.
The new paradigm exposes the error of the old gate keepers.
Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolution' is perhaps the best explanation of this phenomenon.
The authors ask, "Will this truly heretical theory which subordinates neurons to glia be victorious at the end?."
"Can the neuronal doctrine withstand the challenge from glial cells? This is the future [of brain science] which holds the definitive answer to this question."
I think the authors excitement is understated. After all this is a text book. The seminal discoveries made in the last twenty years are the greatest advances made in neuroscience in the previous 100 years. It is a scientific revolution happening right now but largely unnoticed by the general public.
It is a text book of neuroscience but it is still accessible to the lay reader interested in the nature of revolutionary paradigms or in just the most recent developments in neuroscience. The lay reader can scan past parts that are too technical without losing the main thrust of the story.
It is a good read and a great story.
It holds great promise for as yet unimagined advances in understanding brain physiology for treatment of Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism, depression, bipolar and other mental disorders.
There is still something larger.
Of even broader reach and depth is its potential for addressing the perennial questions of philosophy such as mind-brain dualism, human nature and ways to improve mental, emotional health and spiritual awakening. For cleansing the doors of perception.
What is its import for resolving the ancient conflicts of war and genocide? For more abundant living? For restoring and caring for the environment?
This subject provides food for thought for all professions and for anyone interested in addressing the problems of humanity and of life on earth.
Here is a link to a professional cite that provides one of the better discussions that provides a more knowledgeable, fair, and balanced history of neuroscience including the contribution of the neuron doctrine and the debates about it.
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.or...
It is quite fascinating to read about a new discovery in brain science and about just those facts in and of themselves.
But for me, the story is a good case study of how the process and the human dynamic plays out when a new paradigm is not just one of shift but one of revolution.
Instead of shifting a paradigm, the revolutionary paradigm exposes a stubborn and even egotistical resistance to the new paradigm by those experts of the old paradigm who may have held sway for decades or in some cases centuries.
The Neuronal Doctrine was dominant. The glial cells were relatively ignored. There was no electrical activity and hence could not be that important. The last twenty years have turned the tide.
The new paradigm exposes the error of the old gate keepers.
Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolution' is perhaps the best explanation of this phenomenon.
The authors ask, "Will this truly heretical theory which subordinates neurons to glia be victorious at the end?."
"Can the neuronal doctrine withstand the challenge from glial cells? This is the future [of brain science] which holds the definitive answer to this question."
I think the authors excitement is understated. After all this is a text book. The seminal discoveries made in the last twenty years are the greatest advances made in neuroscience in the previous 100 years. It is a scientific revolution happening right now but largely unnoticed by the general public.
It is a text book of neuroscience but it is still accessible to the lay reader interested in the nature of revolutionary paradigms or in just the most recent developments in neuroscience. The lay reader can scan past parts that are too technical without losing the main thrust of the story.
It is a good read and a great story.
It holds great promise for as yet unimagined advances in understanding brain physiology for treatment of Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism, depression, bipolar and other mental disorders.
There is still something larger.
Of even broader reach and depth is its potential for addressing the perennial questions of philosophy such as mind-brain dualism, human nature and ways to improve mental, emotional health and spiritual awakening. For cleansing the doors of perception.
What is its import for resolving the ancient conflicts of war and genocide? For more abundant living? For restoring and caring for the environment?
This subject provides food for thought for all professions and for anyone interested in addressing the problems of humanity and of life on earth.
Here is a link to a professional cite that provides one of the better discussions that provides a more knowledgeable, fair, and balanced history of neuroscience including the contribution of the neuron doctrine and the debates about it.
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.or...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews